My Colleges and Careers

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This is definitely the best list of questions you will need when researching colleges. Whether it be for a visit or if you’re attending college fair, use this list of questions to ask any college representative you speak to. BEFORE YOU BEGIN… Think about the type of college/university you are looking for. Obviously they’re not the same … Continue reading TH […]

As the year comes to a close for many of you, many of you are ready to be done with school now. But make it interesting… Below is a list of school subjects you are probably all used to. Some of these you prefer to do without and some you really do actually like. Why … Continue reading MATCHING A DEGREE WITH THE CLASSES YOU LOVE →

Tag: Keith Lipke

When I went to college I didn’t have all my little duckies in a row. As embarrassing as it is, it took me 6.5 years to get a 4 year degree. I called these my “thinking years…” What’s worse is that I have a twin brother, and he graduated from college 3 years prior to me. Little embarrassing? Damn right. But I’ve always been a “late bloomer.” lol, I’m late to everything.

You might know someone who did this. Ask them why? Chances are they do it because they changed their minds in degree choice, or college choice.

IGNORANCE BREEDS NOTHING!

Ignorance in the form of “not knowing” as its meaning here. When I went to college in 1989, I wanted a Journalism degree. I remember shopping at a Kmart (no Wal-Mart’s in the area then…I know, can you believe it?) and running into a friend’s mother. By this point as a graduated senior from high school, I made a decision to go into journalism and wasn’t really exercising any options. So as I told this to my friends mom, she had this happy look on her face like “Oh, how awesome!!” Sure I was feeling pretty good at that point as she praised the career of a Journalist and how cool it would be.

So yea, it sounded great at that time for me to be a newspaper reporter, or even television journalism. All I really allowed in my mind was that it was a “cool” career and would be exciting, and people would be impressed.

Sure those things are good, but eventually I started taking classes at Columbia College in Chicago. Loved the school, hated the degree.

Two years and way too much money later, I changed my mind and decided not to go into Journalism. So after two years, I left Columbia…but still had no plan.

PUT THE PIECES IN PLAY

There is a section on my blog that is a four-part series on assisting you to making the right career choice.

Have a plan. And then have a back up plan. Life happens and if you are not ready and have all the pieces of your puzzle together, then if life throws you that curve ball, all your ducks will waddle in all directions.

Make a list of your top 3 career choices and list why you choose them. Then make a list of your top 3 college choices.

BE REAL HERE

Don’t pick a career because it pays a lot of money. You will make the money if you find something that fits your personality and talents. Don’t pick a college because its popular, or has a lot of parties. Your in college…you will find the fun.

Think about what is important to you.

Make a list of everything that makes you happy when it comes to future jobs. Then rank them in importance. Find your skills, talents and how your personality should match with different careers.

Do the same thing with regard to college choice.

I didn’t do this…obviously. When I left Columbia I had absolutely NO plans about what my future entailed. I was clueless, and many of us are. It’s okay. Check the blog posts above to get some direction on what to do when choosing degrees and careers.

But, my problem was that I just didn’t have the plan. I didn’t make a list or think about other options in colleges and other potential degrees I could get.

I thought about nothing but what I wanted. I didn’t want to bother with all that, because I had other things to worry about…and thought I felt comfortable enough with what I chose. Well I was wrong. I went to 2 different colleges before getting a degree in Communications.

Now I hold a Master’s degree in higher education. Through all this, I finally found it. That’s why I write this blog. To help you NOT got rhough what i had to do when I was in those “thinking years.”

Find your passion. It’s what defines you.

Your Success is My Success

Keith

Keith Lipke is a careers and college recruiter, coach, mentor and blogger at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people along their journey who need it upon their search for the right career.